Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-06-16

peal, advising us, as our attorney,
to vote for Il. Bunch. Before
further proceeding allow me to say
your whole communication bears
the impress of a partisan campaign
document. You complain very
much of phraseology of the Down
ing platform, that where the word
"feel" occurs "know" should have
been inserted in lieu thereof.
There is an old adage which says,
seeing is believing but "feeling" is
the naked truth. | am ftle opin-
ion the play you make upon this
word "feelo is unwarranted in the
premises and is only for the pur-
pose ofbefogging the minds Of those
with less education than you have.
/ dismiss this part of the subject
as being Of no material importance
so far as the Downing platform is
concerned. The blood laws or
bill, as it IL sometimes called,
which you are evidently under the
impression the Downing party is
wholly responsible for, was con-
tended for and fought for by every
leader in the party now supporting
Bunch that held position at the
time, save the chief. In this he
antagonized his party and with
this and other liberal views held
by him, the recent National con-
vention showed him under very
eflectually. The only resistance
to the construction placed on the
9th article of the treaty of '66, that
amounted to anything, came from
the Downing party. l.. b. Bell,
John Gunter, Sam Mayes, brother
of the candidate for chief, and n
few others entertaining liberal
views, and Just in my opinion,
fought the adoption Of the un-
warranted construction. The same
procedure was re-enacted when
the "blood bill" was passed upon.
You must bear in mind, during
this whole contest, the National
party had a good working majority
in council on joint ballot The
National party after enacting the
unjust law and placing that un-
warranted construction on the 9th
article of the treaty, very gracious
ly came forward in its platform and
with illconcealed sarcasm invites
us who may feel aggrieved to a le-
gal contest in the arena of some
judicial tribunal. You may regard
this 9TH article as granting a gra-
cious privilege. l do not. Nor
will l support that party or any
other party that has passed or will
pass such discriminating laws and
then politely inform me to help
myself if can. OF course the
Downing party will support the
laws found on the statute books,
provided they come in power, for
it is the party Of law and order, but
you certainly cannot think that
would debar it the privilege of
altering, amending or abolishing
any law now in force, unjust to any
class of citizens in this nation.
The truth is, pay very little at
tention to the expressions or prom
ises of party platforms and especial
ly at this time the National plat
form, for | know the rank and file
of what that party is composed of.
1t has been weighed in the bal
ance and found wanting with all
its pretended professions of sym
patty for my race. | will say
further as regards platforms of po-
litical parties here as elsewhere:
In their construction tits the object
to catch votes, too frequently so,
but to the voters supporting these
platforms l pay especial attention.
Having done so in the contest now
going on, / shall have to run the
risk, it may be, Of incurring your
displeasure by supporting Mr..
Mayes for principal chief Of the
Cherokee nation at the August
election. You will be kind enough
I trust to pardon me for being
frank with you when | inform you
there is a growing suspicion in the
minds Of many that your zeal in
support of Mr.. Bunch is not wholly
divestod of considerations of a
pecuniary character which has or
may accrue to you in the event of
his success. or course | do not
share in this suspicion but l do
think it passing strange that you
should think and say the election
of Mr.. Mayes would be prejudicial
to the prosecution ofthe freedman's
claim before the American con-
gress. / must say with due re-
spect for your opinion, that my
opinion Of the American congress
is far different from yours. That
our rights are 10 be affected by the
election of either of the candidates
is certainly placing a very low esti-
mate upon the high character Of
that august, body. ! must say in
conclusion, you are wholly unac-
quainted with the material COM
posing the Bunch party. 1t is not
the Bushyhead party-far from it.
The voters that elected Mr.. Bushy-
head will elect Mr.. Mayes beyond
a doubt. Yours very respectfully,
LAWRENCE 4. Ross.
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TuH OsAgF DELFgATIOy